Launch date announced for Abraxane to treat metastatic breast cancer

American Pharmaceutical Partners announced today that February 8, 2005 is the launch date of Abraxane for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound). Abraxane will be marketed by the national sales force of Abraxis Oncology, APP's proprietary sales and marketing division.

"We are excited by the opportunity to provide this new and innovative treatment option for women with advanced breast cancer," said Al Heller, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Pharmaceutical Partners. "Abraxane has unique attributes that may be beneficial to patients and caregivers alike, including the ability to deliver a higher dose of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel over thirty minutes without steroid premedication and without the toxicities associated with solvents in paclitaxel injection."

Abraxane is indicated for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated. The Abraxane New Drug Application (NDA) was approved by the FDA on January 7, 2005.

http://www.Abraxane.com and http://www.appdrugs.com/